The deadline for submitting sports copy is 9 a.m. on Monday. We prefer email (howardcountysports@patuxent.com). We do not accept results by phone. When two Howard County teams play, players from both teams (first and last names) must be mentioned in the write-up.

Soccer

SAC Premier Blue U-9 continued its tournament success in the U10 Elite Division of the Richmond Ultimate Cup. After finishing a successful fall and winter season, Oscar's U-9 played up a year in the U10 Elite Division of the Cup.

The weather was cold but the boys were up to the challenge. After winning its bracket, the team defeated Beach FC-Rooney, 4-1, in the finals to take the cup. Coach Oscar Sancho-Davis' boys focused on their possession-oriented style of soccer and were able to prevail over older, more experienced competition.

Gymnastics

The Top Flight USAG girl's teams competed at the Frederick Classic on March 9-10. The Level 5 team placed first. Meet highlights include:

The Columbia Gymnastics USAG girls team traveled to Philadelphia to compete in the 2013 Pink Invitational Feb. 22-24. The competition partners with Unite for HER, which is a non-profit that raises awareness and funds to help fight breast cancer. Leading up to the meet, the team organized several bake sales to raise money to participate in the Above and Beyond Team Challenge.

Madison Briel, a Level 9 gymnast from Clarksville, won the floor exercise event and finished second in the Senior A all-around competition at the third annual Courtney Kupets "Pink" Gymnastics Invitational in Georgia. Briel competes for Hills Gymnastics in Gaithersburg, the gym of former Olympian and NCAA Champion Courtney Kupets. The Hills Level 9 team, coached my Amy Martelli, continued their undefeated season with the Team Championship.

Docksiders Gymnastics competed at the ACPR Classic meet on March 3 in Churchville, Md. Kaitlin Dabney of Columbia competed in level 8 and achieved second place on the balance beam.

Track and field

The USATF Indoor Track and Field Nationals were held at the Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex on March 9-10. The Howard County Striders had eight kids compete and six medals were earned. The 9-10 boys 4x200 relay team (Devin Tyler, Morotio Oyeyemi, Josh Ruley and Andre Richmond) placed sixth and earned a trip to the awards stand, as did Taylor Scaife for placing fifth in 17-18 girls shot put and Michael Wegner for placing second in the 17-18 boys 1500.

Synchronized skating

Three local Howard County figure skaters medaled in the adult division at the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, which were held the first weekend in March in Michigan.

Sisters Kim and Sarah Eddy, competing on the DC Edge Synchronized Skating Team, Adult Division, followed up their 2012 gold medal with a bronze medal performance this winter. Both sisters are graduates of Mt. Hebron and DC Edge skates out of the Wheaton Ice Arena in Maryland.

Also at the championships, Long Reach graduate Shauna Weisberg turned in a memorable performance. Weisberg, who competes on the Crystalettes synchronized team based in Michigan, brought home the silver medal.

Swimming

The Maryland Junior State Swimming Championship Meet will be held at St. Mary's College, Mar. 15-17. Swimming against clubs from all over the state, these 60 young women and men, ages 11 years and older, look to become state champions in individual events and team relays in a 25-meter pool.

The following Columbia Clippers will participate in the championship this weekend:

The Columbia Ravens 7th grade girls basketball team finished the 2012-2013 season as champions. The girls carried the momentum of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens throughout the season, enjoying their purple uniforms and 'Go Ravens' chants.

The team played in the Arbutus Girls Athletic Association 13-14 B Division, winning seven of their 10 games, losing only to the Baltimore Starz in the regular season and in the finals, earning runner-up trophies for the championship. In the Carroll County Girls Travel Basketball 7th/8th grade division, the team won 14 of its 16 games. One of those losses was to Western Howard County's Force Team. The Ravens and Force have split the series of the last two seasons, 4-4. The Ravens broke that stalemate, however, when they defeated the Force, Feb. 27, at Atholton High School for the Carroll County championship. The team is coached by Ryan Bartley and Jim Cardea.